#possenhofen castle

[archduchessofnowhere]

We all know media loves to paint Elisabeth and her family as humble country people who lived in a modest state and were look down by the rest of their relatives for being "poor". But how did being "poor" looked like for the Ducal Wittelsbach? Well, let's look at their states! Yes, plural.

The most famous residence of the Ducal Wittelsbach was Possenhofen, a humble, small castle at the shore of Lake Starnberg that acted as the family's summer state.

This is said humble castle btw:

Ok, so if "humble" Possenhofen was just a summer residence, what was the main residence of Ducal Wittelsbach? Well, that would be Herzog Max Palais, a neoclassical three-story palace in Munich built for Duke Max between 1828 and 1830. In case you don't know, Elisabeth was born here!

Sadly, the palace was demolished and no longer exists today.

Was this all? Well, no! Because Duke Max also owned a hunting lodge called Unterwittelsbach near Aichach:

This castle acted as a sort of bachelor residence for Duke Max; neither his wife nor children were allowed to visit. Ironically, today Untterwittelsbach is known as the "Sisi Castle" and a museum about the empress works there.

Ok, this is it! Three castles! Pretty impressive for this alleged poor royal fam- KIDDING DID YOU REALLY THOUGHT THAT WAS IT?

You see, when Max bought Possenhofen he also bought another property at the shore of Lake Starnberg: Garatshausen Castle

Today the castle is owned by the Thurn und Taxis, and hosts a hospital and retirement residence.

Ok now we are done for real... with the castles Duke Max owned. Ludovika had her own castles too!

Ludovika inhereted from her parents two properties: Tegernsee Abbey (left) and Biederstein Castle (right) (disclaimer: Biederstein was actually two castles: the Old Castle built in the 18th century - pictured here in the 1890s - and the New Castle, built in the 1820s)

Tegernsee is the only property on this list that is still owned by the Wittelsbachs. Meanwhile Biederstein Castle was bombed during WW2 and no longer exists today.

Ok, so now for real real, that is it! I may be missing some property, but as far as I'm aware, Max and Ludovika owned these six residences (seven if we consider that Biederstein was two castles). Much for Sisi being a humble country girl right?

[sisionscreen]

RTL has updated its media hub page to now include the synopsis of all six episodes as well as new stills of the fourth season of Sisi (2021).

Translation

Episode 01

Sisi suffers a serious riding accident on Corfu. In order to not endanger her recovery, Franz hides the fact that her father is dying. When she finds out about Max's death, she travels to Possenhofen and finds that her father has lost the family home to jockey Georg in a horse race. Sisi asks for revenge, but the experienced rider only wants to agree if the Empress gets in the saddle herself.

Episode 02

Despite Franz's request to never ride again, Sisi secretly trains for the race against Georg. When stable master Linda disappears, Sisi finds out that she is Max's illegitimate daughter and therefore her half-sister. Meanwhile, Louis receives an offer to become the Minister of Justice, although in order to do so he would have to forgo marrying opera singer Henriette. Sister Sophie Charlotte wants to win King Ludwig's heart.

Episode 03

Sisi wins Linda over to train with the spirited Avalon and finally makes progress. While she also gets closer to Georg, Henriette breaks off her inappropriate/not-of-equal-rank engagement to Louis. At a party in Possenhofen, Sophie Charlotte is supposed to choose a marriage candidate, but then King Ludwig appears and kisses her in front of everyone. While Sisi secretly dances with her opponent Georg, Linda's mother Adele, Max's former lover, is found dead.

More detailed and spoilery description found on Hörzu

Family chaos in Possenhofen! After her performance at the opera, Ludovika puts her rebellious daughter Sophie Charlotte under house arrest. She instructs Louis to place Sophie Charlotte in a nunnery. To prevent this, Archduchess Sophie circulates a dossier before her departure for Vienna containing suitable marriage candidates for Sophie Charlotte. She suggests inviting them to a party at Possenhofen Castle in order to get Sophie Charlotte married. Louis actually succeeds in convincing both Ludovika and Sophie Charlotte of this plan. Surprisingly, Linda decides to help Sisi with her race preparations. Her condition: after the race, Avalon should be hers! At the end of the first promising training session, however, the horse runs away. While searching for the escaped stallion, Sisi meets her rival Georg, swimming naked in the lake - an encounter that leaves both of them quite shaken. Sisi and Linda attend one of Georg's races to study their opponent. The two half-sisters grow closer when Linda tells her about herself and her relationship with Max. Sisi then invites Linda to Sophie Charlotte's party, but the stable master politely declines. When Louis wants to apologize to Henriette after the opening night, she breaks off her engagement with him. He is devastated. On the evening of the reception at Possenhofen Castle, Louis can only convince Sophie Charlotte to attend the party with a stroke of genius. Contrary to expectations, Sophie Charlotte seems to enjoy the attention of the men who want to marry her. But suddenly King Ludwig mingles with the guests and kisses the young duchess in front of everyone! Ludovika, close to fainting again, demands that Louis do everything he can to ensure that the king really marries Sophie Charlotte. When Sisi sneaks away from the family chaos for a moment, she unexpectedly runs into Georg, who was invited by Archduchess Sophie against her will. He asks her to dance, and there is a huge spark between the two. At the same time in Munich: Inspector Hieronymus enters the apartment of Linda's mother Adele and looks into the dead eyes of Max's former lover.

Episode 04

The police arrest Linda as the main suspect in the murder of her own mother. While Sisi tries everything to prove her innocence and asks an old acquaintance for help, Ludovika convinces Georg to call off the big race. Despite the break-up, Louis and Henriette cannot keep their distance from each other. Because Ludwig has not been in touch since the night of the celebration in Possenhofen, Sophie Charlotte is suffering from severe heartbreak.

Episode 05

After an emotional night, Sisi is able to convince her rival Georg to keep the agreement to hold the race for Possenhofen Castle. Ludovika fears that Sisi will find out about her long-kept secret and seeks help from her sister Archduchess Sophie. To secure their careers, Louis and Henriette decide to continue their relationship in a secret affair. Sophie Charlotte breaks free from Ludwig. When Franz finds out about the horse race, he brings his wife back to Vienna.

Episode 06 - The Finale

Sisi puts together the last pieces of the puzzle of the great family secret and travels back to Bavaria to convince her mother to finally reveal the truth. While Louis has to decide whether he really wants to give up his love for Henriette, King Ludwig shows his vulnerability to Sophie Charlotte. Sisi defies Franz and takes part in the final horse race. Will the love of the imperial couple be able to handle this?

[royal-diaries-podcast]

Possenhofen Castle

"Sisi" and her siblings grew up in a very unrestrained and unstructured environment; she often skipped her lessons to go riding about the countryside.

Possenhofen Castle was built in 1536 by Jakob Rosenbusch, was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War, then rebuilt. It passed through various owners before being bought in 1834 by Maximilian, Duke in Bavaria, father of "Sisi", the future Empress Elisabeth (wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria); thus, the castle is best remembered today as her childhood home and favourite vacation retreat.

[history-in-progress]

Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary

Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary was born on December 24th, 1837 as Duchess Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie to Duke Maximilian and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria. Elisabeth was called Sisi. The majority of her childhood was spent at Possenhofen Castle in Bavaria, Germany. Aside from her parents unhappy marriage due to her fathers affairs, Sisi and her seven (surviving) siblings had a relatively happy childhood. Sisi enjoyed being outside the most. She would swim in the lake and go horseback riding. Below is presumably the first photo taken of Sisi when she was a little girl. 

Emperor Franz Joseph l’s mother Archduchess Sophie, also Ludovika’s sister, had contacted Ludovika and told her than Sisi’s older sister Helene would be engaged to Franz Joseph. Franz and Helene were set to meet at the Kaiser villa in Bad Ischl. Ludovika decided to take Sisi along with them to help Helene adjust to the imperial lifestyle. Sisi was 15 and Helene was 18 at the time. Below is an image of Helene as a young adult (maybe 18-19)

Franz Joseph was not known for disagreeing with his mother, much less defying her. Imagine the courts surprise when Franz decided to marry Sisi instead of Helene. Franz and Sisi’s engagement was announced 5 days after they’d met. On April 24th, 1854 Franz and Sisi were married in Vienna. Below is an image of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth.

The Hapsburg court was known for being strict, formal, and steeped in tradition. Sisi was shocked when her life of freedom became a prison of protocol and formality. She never did adjust. Sisi had a horrible relationship with her mother-in-law. Archduchess Sophie believed that the Empress’s only duty was to produce an heir for the throne. Sophie believed that the Empress should never be involved in politics or affairs of the state. Sisi did not agree. She was adamant about improving the lives of the people in the Italian and Hungarian parts of the Austrian Empire and would regularly try to influence her husband. Below is an image of Archduchess Sophie.

Even through the suffocation of Sophie’s constant pressure for a baby boy, Elisabeth did have four children. Her first was a baby girl, Sophie, born on March 5th, 1855. Her mother-in-law took the baby away from Sisi and named her after herself. Sophie refused to let Sisi take care of her baby. Then, Sisi had another baby girl, Gisela, on July 15th, 1856. Again, Sophie took the baby and Sisi couldn’t care for either of her children. The tragedy wasn’t over yet. In 1857, Sisi and Franz took a family trip with the girls to Hungary against the advice of both Sophie and the court physician. Both the girls became sick and Princess Sophie died. This caused Sisi to fall into a deep depression. Franz and Sophie brushed off her behavior. However, Sisi gave birth to another baby, but this time it was a boy. On August 21st, 1858 Crown Prince Rudolf was born. Rudolf was taken from Sisi and was raised by tutors at the age of 6. Sisi was blocked from the education of her children. In 1867 Sisi and Franz were crowned King and Queen of Hungary. A year later, Sisi gave birth to Marie Valerie on April 22nd, 1868. Below are images of Sisi’s children in order of birth. 

Sisi had very little control over many things in her life. However, one thing she did have control over was her body. She dieted constantly and became obsessed with her beauty. That’s how she kept her slender waist that she’s very famous for. Sisi spent a ton of time in Hungary with her youngest child. Sophie hated Hungary and this allowed Sisi to raise Marie on her own. Sophie died in 1872 and Sisi was finally free from her mother-in-law. There is one tragedy that Sisi would never get over. In 1889 Rudolf was found dead with his mistress which was done by their own hands. 

On September 10th, 1898 Sisi was killed by an Italian Anarchist while boarding a boat in Geneva. She was stabbed in the heart and had not realized what had happened to her. She died a few hours later. 

Source: https://www.palaces-of-europe.com/empress-sisi.html 

[wgabry]

Maria Sophie Amalie, Duchess in Bavaria (4 October 1841, Possenhofen Castle – 19 January 1925, Munich) was the last Queen consort of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. She was one of the ten children of Maximilian Joseph, Duke in Bavaria and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria. She was born as Duchess Maria Sophia in Bavaria. She was the younger sister of the better-known Elisabeth of Bavaria ("Sisi") who married Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria.

[germanaustriannoblesandroyals]

House of Wittelsbach & of Bourbon: : Sophie in Bavaria

Sophie was born as the ninth of ten children of Duke Maximilian in Bavaria and his wife Princess Ludovika of Bavaria. She is the younger sister of Helene in Bavaria, Hereditary Princess of Thurn and Taxis, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Queen Marie of the Two Sicilies and Mathilde in Bavaria, Countess of Trani.

As the sister-in-law of the Austrian emperor, many noble men asked for or considered her hand in marriage. The most famous contenders were Archduke Ludwig Viktor of Austria - younger brother of the Austrian emperor -, the future King Luís I of Portugal and Duke Philipp of Württemberg.

She shared a passion for nature and the music of Richard Wagner with her two years older cousin King Ludwig II of Bavaria. They became engaged in 1867 but Ludwig broke it off in October the same year as rumors were spreading that Sophie was actually in love with court photographer Edgar Hanfstaengl.

After the broken engagement, she became severely depressed. Because of that she was sent to stay with her aunt Queen Amalie Auguste of Saxony. It was in Saxony, Sophie met Prince Ferdinand of Orléans, Duke of Alençon. He was the son of Prince Louis, Duke of Nemours and grandson of the late King Louis Philippe of the French. Soon after, on September 28th, 1868, she married him at her childhood home in Possenhofen Castle. They had two children: Louise and Emmanuel.

Like many of her relatives, Sophie, too, suffered from mental health issues. In 1886, she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. In the same winter, she supposedly fell in love with her doctor. It is said they wanted to run away together and Sophie wanted to divorce her husband. This in the end came not into being, as Sophie was diagnosed with “moral insanity” and her husband placed her in the sanatorium in Mariagrün.

Sophie died in a fire at the Bazar de la Charité in Paris on May 4th, 1897. She had refused rescue attempts, insisting that the girls working with her at the bazaar be saved first. Attempts to have her body identified by her personal maid having failed, her dentist was called in. After two hours examining various bodies he identified hers on the basis of her gold fillings.

// Cast: Paula Beer as Sophie in Bavaria in Ludwig II. (2012)

[irenethehistorynerd]

Known to her family as 'Sisi', Elisabeth, Empress of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, remains one of the most Romantic (the capital R is on purpose) and tragic queens in history. Married to her cousin at only age sixteen, Elisabeth was thrust into a life of strict etiquette and heavy media scrutiny. Deeply unhappy, she wandered Europe for more than three decades searching for peace. Elisabeth was the fourth child of Duke Maximilian in Bavaria and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria. Ludovika and Maximilian were cousins, and were almost constantly at loggerheads with each other. Maximilian was something of a free spirit--preferring to roam Bavaria disguised as a commoner, playing the zither in taverns for public amusement. Maximilian also had several affairs, and had a distinct distaste for life in Possenhofen--the castle where Elisabeth and her siblings grew up. Though Maximilian seemed to have dislike Possenhofen, he didn't dislike his children. He would frequently take them on long nature expeditions, lasting weeks at a time. Due to this, and her mother's disbelief in an extensive education, Elisabeth's education was fairly unsettled, and she did not have the  education she would later need to rule. From all accounts, Elisabeth's childhood at Possenhofen was idyllic. She played with her siblings, avoided her lessons, wrote poetry, and rode horses. However, all of that changed in 1853 when Elisabeth was 15.

[european-royalties]

King Leopold II saw his nephew, Baudouin, as his heir in the face of a brother who was deaf and disinterested in power. Prince Baudouin, however, died prematurely at the age of twenty-one in 1891.  It was therefore the other nephew of Leopold II, Albert, who became the third Belgian monarch by taking the oath on December 23, 1909.  Born on April 8, 1875  at the Palais de la Régence in Brussels, he had married on October 2,  1900 in Munich, Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria. Daughter of Duke Charles-Théodore in Bavaria (1839-1909) and Infanta Marie-Josephus of Portugal (1857-1943), she was born on July 25, 1876 in Possenhofen (Germany). The couple had three children:  Léopold, Duke of Brabant  Charles, Count of Flanders Marie-José, born August 4, 1906 in Ostend, married January 8, 1930 in Rome to Prince Umberto of Italy (1904-1983) who became King of Italy from May 9 to June 10, 1946, and died on January 27 2001 in Thônex (Switzerland)  During the First World War, he took command of the Belgian army and occupied a fragment of territory following the flooding of the Yser plains while his government had gone into exile in Sainte-Adresse (France). He accidentally died while climbing on February 17, 1934 in Marches-les-Dames. Queen Elisabeth died on November 23, 1965 at the Stuyvenberg Castle.  #RoyalHistory #HistoryofRoyals #SaxeCoburgGotha #BelgianRoyalFamily #BelgianRoyals #KingAlbertI #DuchessElisabeth #QueenElisabeth #Monarchy #EuropeanRoyalties https://www.instagram.com/p/CNPy-5DndGk/?igshid=5pdvr28y5e3c

[heavyarethecrowns]

People that have married in to Royal Families since 1800

Belgium

Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria

Elisabeth of Bavaria was Queen consort of the Belgians as the spouse of King Albert I, and a Duchess in Bavaria by birth

Born in Possenhofen Castle, her father was Karl-Theodor, Duke in Bavaria, head of a cadet branch of the Bavarian royal family, and an ophthalmologist of recognized reputation.

She was named in honor of her father's sister, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Sisi.

Her mother was Maria Josepha of Portugal, daughter of exiled Miguel I of Portugal.

An artist himself, Duke Karl-Theodor cultivated the artistic tastes of his family and Elisabeth was raised with a deep love for painting, music and sculpture.

At her father's clinic, where her mother assisted her father as a nurse, Elisabeth obtained exposure to productive labour and to human suffering unusual at that time for a princess.

In Munich on 2 October 1900, Duchess Elisabeth married Prince Albert, second-in-line to the throne of Belgium (after his father Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders).

Upon her husband's accession to the Belgian throne in 1909, Elisabeth became queen. The city of Élisabethville, today Lubumbashi, in the Congo was named in her honour.

They had first met in 1897 at the funeral of Elisabeth's aunt Duchess Sophie Charlotte in Bavaria, who was also the mother-in-law of Albert's sister Henriette. At the time, Prince Albert was the heir to his uncle Leopold II of Belgium. Albert was the second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders and Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, a sister of King Carol I of Romania

In December 1909, Albert and Elisabeth became King and Queen of the Belgians, following the death of Albert’s uncle, King Leopold II.

The new Queen took on a much more public role than her predecessors, getting involved with many charities and organizations, particularly those in the arts and social welfare. She often surrounded herself with famous authors and artists, as well as leading scientists of the day. Her friendly nature, and true care and concern for others, quickly endeared her to the people of Belgium.

When war broke out in 1914, Queen Elisabeth worked with the nurses on the front and helped establish the Symphony Orchestra of the field army. She also traveled to the UK often, under the pretext of visiting her children who were studying there. In fact, she was often bringing important messages and

information to the British government from her husband and his forces. Following the war, the family made a triumphant return to Brussels and set about to rebuild the nation. During the First World War, she and the King resided in De Panne. The Queen made herself beloved by visiting the front lines and by sponsoring a nursing unit.

Despite her German background, she was a popular queen, perceived as eagerly supporting her adoptive country.

On February 17, 1934, Albert I died in a mountain climbing accident in the Ardennes of Belgium, near Namur. He was succeeded by their elder son, King Leopold III.

Elisabeth withdrew from public life, so as not to hinder the efforts of her daughter-in-law, Queen Astrid. However, in August 1935, Queen Astrid was killed in an automobile accident in Switzerland. Queen Elisabeth returned to public life, doing her best to support her son and his young family, and resuming her position as first lady of the land.

Elisabeth lived to see her son become king (but also go into exile and abdicate), her younger son become, effectively, regent of the realm, and her grandson mount the throne.

As queen dowager, she became a patron of the arts and was known for her friendship with such notable scientists as Albert Einstein. During the German occupation of Belgium from 1940 to 1944, she used her influence as queen and German connections to assist in the rescue of hundreds of Jewish children from deportation by the Nazis.

When Brussels was liberated, she allowed her palace to be used for headquarters of the British XXX Corps, and presented its commander General Horrocks with its mascot, a young wild boar named 'Chewing Gum'.

After the war she was awarded the title Righteous Among the Nations by the Israeli government.

During the 1950s, the Queen evoked controversy abroad by visiting the Soviet Union, China and Poland, trips that prompted some to label her as the "Red Queen"

Queen Elisabeth died in Brussels at the age of 89 on 23 November 1965 from a heart attack. She is interred in the royal vault at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken, Brussels.

[archduchessofnowhere]

Archduke Franz Josef goes to Bavaria

I was some days ago years old when I discovered that Franz Josef I's childhood diary is available in the Projekt Gutenberg. I'd been busy lately studying for upcoming exams and dreading for the future of my country, so I haven't had the time to look much into it, but for the little I've read it isn't that interesting - just short entries summarizing what he did on the day, with little to no personal thoughts. But even so I came across some entries that I thought might be of interest for you so I quickly put this post together, since I feel bad having this blog a bit abandoned as of lately.

At the beginning of September of 1843 the thirteen-years-old Archduke Franz Josef went with his mother to visit their Bavarian family in Munich. While "Franzi" (frustratingly to us) dedicates more words to describe what kind of animals he hunt that day than to his relatives, this somewhat dull entries still contain a very interesting piece of information: the earliest recorded meeting between him and his future wife, Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria. So without further delay, here are the entries from September 2 and 3, which correspond to the first two days of the Archduke's visit to Munich (as always mandatory disclaimer that these are machine translations and therefore there may be/are some mistakes):

2. From Wasserburg we travelled to Munich, the beautiful dear Munich, where we saw the magnificent Festbau, the Basilica, the Ludwigskirche, the staircase of the library, the huge Bavaria by Stiegelmayer and the All Saints' Chapel.

We dined at Palais Leuchtenberg at half past four. Sad memories when we saw the lords, ladies and servants of poor Grandmama [Queen Caroline of Bavaria, who passed away in 1841]. I met the Crown Prince [Oscar] and Crown Princess [Josephine] of Sweden there.

We left Munich at 7 o'clock and arrived at Possenhofen at quarter past ten. We found there the Duke Max and all his children except Louis [Duke Ludwig Wilhelm], who is in Switzerland.

3 Sunday. We breakfasted with Aunt Louise [Duchess Ludovika], Helene, Elise [Elisabeth] and the very nice but almost spoilt Karl [Theodor]. At 10 o'clock we went into the dull chapel to hear mass, where I felt so sick that I had to be carried out of the chapel to an open window, where I got well again; then I lay down on the bed. At 12 o'clock I and Count Bombelles fished with Duke Max, where we caught 20 birch and white fish. I dined at my place with Count Bombelles and, because of my earlier habits, I only ate a plate of bouillons and an artichoke. In the afternoon we all went, even little Karl, to the king's castle on the opposite shore of the lake, where we had a snack. When we got home, I went straight to my room where I ate soup and then went to bed.

The Palais Leuchtenberg was the residence of Franz Josef's aunt Princess Auguste of Bavaria, the widow of Eugène de Beauharnais. Crown Princess Josephine was Auguste's and Eugène's eldest child, and therefore the future emperor's first cousin. I found this mention interesting because, even though they were closely related, the meetings between Franz Josef and the Bernadottes seem to have been rare, and I don't even know if he ever saw Josephine again when they were monarchs.

Meanwhile, Possenhofen was the summer residence of Duke Max in Bavaria's family (the Duke also had his own bachelor residence in which he spent most of his time, away from his family). Curiously FJ doesn't call him "uncle", though I don't know if this was for a particular reason or if he just didn't refer to the husbands of his aunts as uncles in general. At the time of this visit "Aunt Louise" was heavily pregnant with her seventh child, Mathilde, who would be born the 30th of that same month. His cousins Helene, Elisabeth (still called "Elise" by her relatives, the nickname "Sisi" would only appear in 1853) and Karl (whom apparently hadn't earned his nickname "Gackl" yet) were nine, five and four-years-old respectively. I have no idea why the twelve-years-old Louis, the eldest son the Ducal couple that FJ notes was missing, was in Switzerland. As for the youngest child of the couple - the still not two-years-old Marie - I suppose she was in the nursery, busy being a toddler, and that's why her cousin didn't saw her. Also it seems that passing out during Mass was really just A Thing That Happened, the place being so crowded and the incense being so strong, which may explain why Franz Josef is so casual about it in his writing.

Franz Josef and his mother stayed in Munich until September 6, so this was really a brief visit. The rest of the entries are just as exciting as the first two (ha!): visits to Possenhofen, the Palais Leuchtenberg and the Palais Max (the Ducal family's main residence in Munich), tea with Aunt Louise, family dinners, fishing and hunting (FJ feels the need to tells us exactly how many and what kind of birds did he shot, because obviously he knew the future historian would be dying to know that and not what he thought of his Bavarian relatives). There are two more things, however, that I would like to highlight from his entries. First, that despite having a reputation as a man uninterested in art, FJ deemed important to mention the many paintings and sculptures he saw in Munich; and second, this surprisingly poetic description of the lake Starnberg:

The wind whistled coldly across the lake, and the boat danced on the rolling waves of foam; it was a very beautiful sight; I thought I was on the sea, for towards the end of the lake the mountains were covered with clouds, and on this side one saw nothing but water, sky and a church tower illuminated by the sun.

And I have to give it to him, if he wanted, he could write more than short and dry descriptions.

[sisionscreen]

Character bios of Sisi (2021) Season 04 characters

The original German character bios can be found at RTL's media hub. Below you can find their English translations.

Empress Sisi (Dominique Devenport)

Sisi continues to be torn between her deep desire for freedom and the strict duties of her imperial position. Again and again, she is drawn to the vastness of the world to escape the narrow cage of the Hofburg. When after her father's death she returns to her old home Possenhofen and is in danger of losing the family seat, she realizes how much this old home means to her and she does her utmost to save it. In her fight for Possenhofen Castle, Sisi doesn't just discover dark family secrets but also struggles with the question where her heart is truly at home.

______________________________________________________________

Emperor Franz Joseph (Jannik Schümann)

Sisi's absence at court leads to tensions between her and Franz. He misses Sisi, not only as a tactically skilled cally on the political stage, but also as a wife and confidant. When he learns that Sisi has defied his wish to stop riding, he tries to force her to fulfill her imperial duties and orders her back to the court. Ultimately, he realizes that this is only driving her further away from him, and that he has to let go to win her back.

______________________________________________________________

Archduchess Sophie (Désirée Nosbusch)

After the death of her brother-in-law, Duke Max in Bavaria, Archduchess Sophie takes care of her grieving sister Ludovika and her family. She not only wants to make sure that Max's successor Louis properly fulfills his duties as the new head of the family, but also to protect the secret of Ludovika's past, which is threatening to come to light.

______________________________________________________________

Duchess Ludovika (Julia Stemberger)

After the death of her husband Max, Ludovika does everything she can to cover up his double life and thereby keep her darkest secret, which would shake her family to its foundations and which would ultimately be so serious that she would endanger her own life for it.

______________________________________________________________

Count Grünne (David Korbmann)

After he broke with Franz, Count Grünne left the Hofburg in Vienna. But when Sisi asks him again for help to uncover the background to a mysterious murder, he is once again at her side as a loyal friend.

______________________________________________________________

Countess Esterházy (Tanja Schleiff)

Esterházy's loyalty is put to the test when Sisi trains for the horse race behind her husband Franz's back, endangering not only her marriage but also her health. But Esterházy, as usual, sticks by her Empress, even if it could cost her her position. In the end, with her usual finesse, she even knows how to steer Sisi's heart in the right direction.

______________________________________________________________

Max, Duke in Bavaria (Marcus Grüsser)

Shortly before he can confess to his wife Ludovika that he lost the family estate, Possenhofen Castle, in a horse bet, Duke Max suffers a fatal heart attack. He leaves his family with a huge pile of broken pieces, which not only puts a strain on their relationships but also brings unexpected revelations to light.

______________________________________________________________

Sophie Charlotte in Bavaria (Philine Schmölzer)

Sophie Charlotte is Sisi's youngest sister and the last child who still lives with Ludovika and Max at Possenhofen. The defiant rebel doesn't mince her words and doesn't miss any chance to provoke her family, and especially her mother, who wants nothing more than to marry off Sophie Charlotte soon. However, with her almost youthful recklessness, Sophie Charlotte ensures that all attempts to introduce her to suitable marriage candidates always fail. She often secretly smokes marijuana while painting surrealistic and erotic pictures. But when she meets King Ludwig, everything is over for her and from then on she only pursues one goal: to make the man who has a dubious reputation her husband.

______________________________________________________________

King Ludwig II of Bavaria (Gustav Schmidt)

The “Fairy Tale King” breaks with every expectation of a king of his time. The good-looking young man also breaks all fashion conventions; instead of elegant courtly clothing, he could be seen as a pioneer of the haute couture fashion movement. Despite his strikingly modern style, Ludwig is fighting for his existence as king, which is why the country's democratic movement is a thorn in his side. While he enjoys all the attention and misses no opportunity to invest his fortune in art and culture, things are looking bleak for him politically. He senses that not everyone in the court is loyal to him and fears a fall from power. And between all these worries there is love. Because Ludwig has so far avoided any kind of commitment to a woman. He initially also tries this with Sophie Charlotte, but she fascinates him. Will he ever be able to love Sophie Charlotte the way she loves him?

______________________________________________________________

Ludwig "Louis" in Bavaria (Rick Okon)

With the death of his father Max, Sisi's eldest brother Louis becomes the new head of the family. Not only does he have an excellent law degree, but he also adheres to courtly etiquette and always tries to meet all expectations. But love, of all things, thwarts his plans: the woman he wants to marry is not a noblewoman, but the middle-class opera singer Henriette Mendel. When King Ludwig promises him the position of Minister of Justice/Attorney General, a befitting marriage becomes even more urgent. And so Louissoon faces a big dilemma about the question of what is more important to him: status, career and responsibility towards the family, or his own happiness and love...

______________________________________________________________

Henriette Mendel (Antonia Moretti)

Henriette is Louis' free-spirited fiancée. She loves being on stage and is about to become the new star in the Munich opera firmament. At the same time, she wants to hold on to her relationship with Louis without giving up her career. When Louis is appointed head of the family and also has to become a minister/secretary, she feels that she has no place in this world. Especially Ludovika's demands for her children's spouses seem to make a marriage with Louis impossible. In order to not lose Louis entirely, she offers him a secret liaison instead of marriage, which means a life in the shadow of a wife who is befitting his status and promotes Louis' career, and therefor ensures Henriette's own independence.

______________________________________________________________

Georg Basselet von La Rosée (Klaus Steinbacher)

Georg Basselet von La Rosée comes from a long line of chamberlains, but he has now renounced nobility and all the social obligations that go with it. His heart lies in equestrian sports. He is a fascinated racing jockey and horse breeder, businessman and owner of a stud farm. Nobody knows this world as well as he does, and nobody knows better than him how to drive horses to peak performance. He does everything for his reputation as the 'best jockey in Bavaria'. And once the highly attractive bachelor has set his mind to something, he never loses sight of this goal - including his home, Possenhofen, where Georg grew up before Sisi's family took over the castle. Shortly before Max's death, Georg recaptured the castle from the Wittelsbach family as part of a horse race, and now it's up to Sisi to fight for her home: When she offers Georg another race for the castle, he can't say no. In his opponent Sisi, of all people, Georg finds a soul mate who cares about Possenhofen Castle just as much as he does and who also struggles with her status and role as Empress. Soon the attraction between the two can no longer be denied. In the end, Georg is ready to give up his search for a home for Sisi and he chooses freedom.

______________________________________________________________

Linda (Eli Riccardi)

Linda is the stable master at Possenhofen Castle and Sisi's secret half-sister. Since childhood, she has lived with this lie in the shadow of Max's official family. She mostly spent the few hours with her father in the stable or riding. Linda knows nothing other than this shadowy existence. She has come to terms with this and focuses on work in the stable, which repeatedly leads to arguments with her mother Adele, who feels betrayed by the Wittelsbach family. When Sisi prepares to win the race against Felix and save Possenhofen Castle, she is the only one who can help her. Linda accepts the challenge without knowing what lies ahead when she uncovers the big family secret.

______________________________________________________________

Adele Schwarz (Sabine Timoteo)

Adele is the mother of Linda, who was conceived out of wedlock, and the former lover of Max, who secured her existence throughout his life and paid the rent for her Munich apartment. After Max's death, Adele now has to fear losing her apartment and asks Linda to stay away from the Wittelsbach family, which she refuses. In her desperation, Adele increasingly reaches for the bottle and ends up paying the greatest price to finally bring the long-kept, dark family secret to light...

[dweemeister]

Sissi (1955, Austria)

Germany’s annexation of Austria in World War II devastated Austria’s domestic film industry. Either its best directors, producers, and writers fled to neutral or Allied nations or they were absorbed into a centralized, Nazi-run film company named Wien-Film (”Wien” is German for Vienna). Wien-Film rarely distributed propaganda, but its light comedies had anti-Semitic and Fascist undertones. Following Axis defeat, Austria’s film industry – unlike Italy’s neorealists, Poland’s directors examining national identity, or French New Wave directors advocating innovation – looked backward with period pieces and musical comedies as the Austrian public sought escapism, not reminders of their daily struggles. Some writers and historians of cinema might dismiss this demand for escapism as resulting in unchallenging films. But just because Sissi – the first of a trilogy based on the early life of Empress Elisabeth (”Sissi”; pronounced “SEE-see” not like the word “sissy”) of Austria – is not a thematically or cinematically complicated piece, does not mean its initial and enduring popularity is worthless.

Think of Sissi as a delectable, artisanal box of chocolates. Think of Ingmar Bergman movies as broccoli – Swedish broccoli. The latter is healthy and you may just like it (I certainly do); the former may do no favors for your health, but is it not enjoyable?

By 1955, Austria was still in the throes of economic recovery with the Marshall Plan’s assistance. Still occupied by Allied forces, Austria reestablished its sovereignty on July 27, 1955. Five months later, Ernst Marischka’s Sissi was released, becoming one of the most successful German-language movies of all time. Sissi and the two movies following it – which will receive write-ups after this – have since become Christmas staples in German-speaking countries and Hungary. All of that enjoyment begins in the first installment. For Austrians prideful of their history and national identity, it is a romanticized, sanitized yuletide treat. For everyone else, Sissi begins the story of a sumptuous royal drama with the sense of humor of a live-action ‘50s/’60s Disney film (without the juvenile intentions), the production quality as beautiful as any Western film in these difficult years for Europe.

It is the mid-1850s in Bavaria (at the time part of the ineffective German Confederation with close ties with the Austrian Empire, also a member of the Confederation). Princess Elisabeth (Romy Schneider; henceforth referred to as “Sissi”) is the second-oldest daughter of Duke Maximilian Joseph (Gustav Knuth; “Max”) and Duchess Ludovika (Magda Schneider, Romy’s mother). Sissi is sixteen years old, running about her parents’ lakeside estate among the forests and green mountains, living through a wondrous childhood. One day, eldest sister Helene (Uta Franz; “Nené”) travels with their mother, Ludovika, to Bad Ischl, a summer retreat of Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I (Karlheinz Böhm). Nené is to be engaged to Franz Joseph, an arrangement engineered long ago by his mother, Archduchess Sophie (Vilma Degischer; Sophie is Ludovika’s elder sister). Despite not being invited to court due to her tomboyish ways, Sissi joins her mother and elder sister out of curiosity for new sights and experiences. While wandering the forest, Sissi accidentally encounters Franz Joseph, beginning a succession of events that sees them falling in love, the audience reeling in secondhand embarrassment for Nené especially, and ending with Sissi’s marriage and crowning as Empress on April 24, 1854.

Other important characters include Franz Joseph’s father Archduke Franz Karl (Erich Nikowitz) and Franz Joseph’s brother Archduke Karl Ludwig (Peter Weck). Serving as comic relief are two fictional creations: the overly presumptuous Gendarmerie-Major Böckl (Josef Meinrad; whose character appears in the two successive Sissi films) and the Postmaster of Ischl (Richard Eybner).

There are some historical inaccuracies for those wanting to compile a definitive list of such things: Sissi was actually the fourth child of Max and Ludovika, not the second. Also, there was never any clandestine mountainous flirtation between Franz Joseph and Sissi; instead, he just happened to find Sissi more attractive than Nené (if Nené had a nicer temperament, then his motivations might be suspect). Of all the Sissi films, this first installment – the entire trilogy was written by Marischka – is the one rewriting history the most. The narrative contrivances to extend the romantic drama are too convenient and too silly to be believed anyways. This fits with the tenor Sissi is attempting but is ultimately as clichéd as any romance could be.

However, depending on how enjoyable and charming a piece of narrative art is, even the most generic of storylines and developments get an occasional (or frequent) pass. The opening half-hour of Sissi sees the titular princess and her siblings frolic like the spoiled countryside urchins they are – think “Do-Re-Mi�� from another film allowing audiences a glimpse of beautiful Austrian backdrops. For all of the traditional stiffness that Archduchess Sophie attempts to enforce, the gleeful spontaneity of Sissi’s family (and Sissi herself) provides a light-hearted juxtaposition that, in the two subsequent films, becomes the center of personal dramas. The 1955 Sissi is hinting at the disappointment and sadness that is to come, but there is nothing like a first love for people to forget life’s difficulties, and what must be endured and tolerated as years pass. The audience can sense the tension between Sissi’s dedication to Franz Joseph and her fear of the trappings – and traps – of the imperial duties she must perform.

Throughout this trilogy, Romy Schneider takes the part of Sissi and allows us to see the Empress’ generosity, forbearance, and endurance. By the time the final Sissi film was released in 1957, Schneider would occasionally be referred to as, “Sissi” in German-language media. All this for good reason – Schneider becomes Sissi on the first try. Her warmth, derived from her too-perfect parents and too-perfect family, is here in abundance, even in times where her character faces the obstruction of royal ways and Archduchess Sophie’s initial coldness toward her. As Franz Josef, Karlheinz Böhm – ten years Schneider’s elder, the two became great friends during production – is less charismatic here, but his better performances will come as political intrigue strikes in the upcoming movies.

Elsewhere, Vilma Degischer plays Archduchess Sophie as a stickler for tradition, almost offended by her son’s indiscretions – Sophie convinced her husband to abdicate the throne in 1848 to Franz Josef, positioning herself as arguably the most important person in the Austrian Empire. Degischer is unmoving, calculating, but never acting against her son’s or the Empire’s interests. Degischer allows audiences to understand Sophie’s intentions – a lesser actress might have interpreted Sophie as too antagonistic. A subplot where Gendarmerie-Major Böckl believes Sissi to be a nefarious individual before her first encounter with Franz Joseph is an overstretched punchline, but at least Josef Meinrad’s energy and comic timing is excellent.

The first Sissi film is, thematically, the least interesting in the entire series despite being the least flawed overall. All of the conflicts – political, personal, familial – that make this series worthwhile are all developing in the background, to be fully articulated once Sissi understand the imperial experience of being a public leader. This film is most like the stereotypical conception of a Disney princess movie, with romance that is flighty, and drama that is, in some sense, smiled away.

Unless written otherwise, many of the craftspersons about to be mentioned served for the entire Sissi trilogy because they were Ernst Marischka regulars around this time. Everyone mentioned here contributes astounding work.

Cinematographer Bruno Mondi (co-cinematographer on Fritz Lang’s 1921 film Destiny) shoots much of this film outdoors, as the first Sissi is more dependent on exteriors and on-location footage than the others.  Thankfully for Mondi, the on-location exteriors lend to this film’s (and the trilogy’s) epic, postcard-picture-perfect scope. Seeking out locations Princess (later Empress) Elisabeth lived in her youth, Marischka wanted to shoot at the family estate of Possenhofen Castle on Lake Starnberg. However, the castle was in such disrepair at the time that shooting moved to Fuschlee Castle in Salzburg instead. Other locations include the Tyrolean mountains, Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna (Franz Joseph’s summer residence; Schönbrunn will be prevalent later) and St. Michael's Church in Vienna.

In other technical areas, the costume design by Leo Bei (Marischka’s 1954 film The Story of Vickie, various 1960s Disney productions set in Austria), Gerdago (The Story of Vickie), and Franz Szivats (Szivats is the only credited costume designer who did not work on the third film) is magnificent. Alternating between simpler – but upper-class – casual attire to the courtly gowns and suits found in the ball scenes, the amount of costumes needed for Sissi alone is incredible to see. Art director/production designer Fritz Jüptner-Jonstorff has obviously completed extensive research to implement as many details as he can to Sissi’s family’s lakeside home as well as the royal residences.

The music score by Anton Profes (The Story of Vickie) concentrates around Sissi’s theme, which appears across the trilogy typically as transitional music. The motif never tires itself, and Profes knows to arrange the theme slightly depending on the situational contexts of the previous or upcoming scenes. Otherwise, if one despises Viennese waltzes, be warned that Johann Strauss II’s Roses from the South waltz might be stuck in your head once completing any of the Sissi films (as is a recurring theme in this write-up, there will be more waltz music and musical interest in the sequels; know what you are getting into in all facets of the filmmaking before committing). Oh, and for you history sticklers, Roses from the South is an anachronism; Strauss composed the piece in 1880.

Not only did Sissi become an instant cultural phenomenon in Austria, a sort of reclamation of a glorious past through cinema. But it also proved popular in an unexpected place. For Chinese mainlanders who lived through the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), the film’s appearance on mainland Chinese television spurred Chinese interest in Austria. The first Sissi – I have no independent confirmation about the popularity of the entire trilogy – needed no censorship because of its lack of politics and fluffy romance. On China’s equivalent of the IMDb, Douban, Sissi is very well-rated and popular for a 1950s Western movie (China, for various reasons including the government’s censoring prickliness, does not have as strong a cinematic tradition that values classic movie fandom as many Western nations).

In North America, Sissi is relatively unknown, as is the name Romy Schneider –  Schneider later appeared in a handful of Hollywood productions, but felt most at home in Europe. All three Sissi films are now available on Blu-ray thanks to New York-based Film Movement. Film Movement is an organization that distributes non-English language and independent films (theatrically and monthly on home media) that have been ignored by North American audiences. On Halloween this year, Film Movement released the box set of the entire trilogy with a new 2K restoration. These are the versions that aired on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on October 18, and on which this review (and the two later pieces I will write to complete the trilogy) is based on.

Sissi has all the sweetness of the most heartwarming fairy tales and is deserving of its status as a cultural touchstone. Along with some liberties in the storytelling, the craftswork and the performances enliven these historical individuals and moments described in books, depicted in portraits, regarded by the Austrian people.

My rating: 7.5/10

^ Based on my personal imdb rating. Half-points are always rounded down. My interpretation of that ratings system can be found here.

Also in the Sissi trilogy: Sissi: The Young Empress (1956) and Sissi: Fateful Years of an Empress (1957)

[royal-diaries-podcast]

Equestrian portrait of teenage Sisi at Possenhofen Castle, 1853

[sissiofaustria]

Elizabeth duchess in Bavaria later Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary (1837-1898)

Born on 24th December 1837 as  the forth child of Princess Ludovika of Bavaria, Duchess in Bavaria and  Duke Maximilian in Bavaria, she spend her happy childhood at the Munich  Town Palace and at Castle Possenhofen on Starnberger See.

Possenhofen  and Starnberger See stayed also after her wedding with Emperor Franz  Joseph I. in the year 1854 a beloved getaway and a place of recreation.  Far away from the court ceremonial in Vienna, here she was able to  dedicate herself to care for her body and soul.

She savored her freedom  on horseback in the hilly landscape, on enchanted Roseninsel or also in  the ladies bath of Hotel Strauch at Feldafing.For twenty-four summers  Elisabeth enjoyed quiet and relaxation in the hotel, which is today  named after her, and in the intimate surroundings at Starnberger See.

 Apart from these sole and rare moments of peace, she never was a happy  woman during her adulthood. Not comfortable at the stiff court at Vienna  and in constant conflict with her husbands mother Sophie of Austria she  was soon also known for depressions, unsteady behavior and eating  disruptions.

After the passing away of her relative and soul-mate King  Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1886 and the suicide of her son Archduke Rudolf  in 1889, Elisabeth started excessive traveling from Madeira to Korfu  until her trips found a tragic end with her murder in Geneva in 1898.

http://www.bavaria-agentour.de/sisi-museum-possenhofen.html?&L=1

[edwardslovelyelizabeth]

Elisabeth of Austria as a bride in Possenhofen by Carl Theodor von Piloty and Franz Adam, 1853 oil on canvas

This artistic co-production, with Franz Adam painting the horse and Carl Theodor von Piloty painting Elisabeth and the scenery was created in the autumn of 1853, immediately after the engagement of Princess Elisabeth and Emperor Franz Joseph in Bad Ischl. It depicts Princess Elisabeth at the age of 15, seated on horseback in Bavaria, in front of Possenhofen Castle, her parents’ summer residence at Lake Starnberg.The painting was a Christmas gift from Sisi to her fiancé Franz Joseph – though her family also referred to it as an “engagement present”. It was presented in the ducal palace in Munich on Christmas Eve in 1853. Sisi’s 16th birthday was celebrated that same evening. The proud groom had insisted on travelling to Munich from Vienna for this occasion in spite of urgent government duties. In his luggage was a present for Sisi: a painting showing him on horseback.

Emperor Franz Joseph was captivated by his “beloved angelic Sisi” until the day she died. Even after her death, he wanted to rest his eyes on the enchanting woman he had fallen in love with head over heels in the summer of 1853. The painting hung in his bedroom at the Hofburg. x

[ultramegatroutman]

The historic painting, which the future Empress Elisabeth of Austria gave to Francis Joseph of Austria in 1853, the year of their engagement, garnered €1,540,00 at the 19th century paintings auction on 27 April 2017, far surpassing expectations. The painting depicts Sisi, then 15 years old and a Bavarian duchess, seated on horseback against the backdrop of her parent’s Possenhofen Castle and Lake Starnberg. Sisi’s father, Duke Maximilian Joseph, commissioned two of the most important painters of the time to paint it: the German genre picture painter Carl Theodor von Piloty and the highly esteemed equestrian Franz Adam. The painting hung on the wall above the emperor’s bed in the Hofburg Imperial Palace.

@mandrillussphinx